Wrapping-machine



E. M. LAMBERT.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1919.

3 SHETSSHEET 1.

E. M. LAMBERT.

WRAPPING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1919.

119%. 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented Dec. 28

lwoewtoz Earl 1 1' Lambs/fl- E. M. LAMBERT.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1919.

1 gfififigg Patented Dec. 28, 11920..

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EARL M. LAMBERT, 03F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO BOEING AIRFLANE COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

WRAPPINfl-MACHENE.

Application filed July 12, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, EARL M. LAMBERT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Seattle, county of King, State of Washin ton, have invented certain new and useful improvements in lVrapping -Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a wrapping machine which is intended for wrapping wire upon cables and the like, as upon the overlapping ends to secure an eye therein.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine which will do this work to better advantage, and one in which particularly, the feed of the wire along the object being wrapped, is accomplished automatically by engagement with the turn of wire last placed thereon.

Another object ofmy invention is to pro vide means whereby the rate of feed may be momentarily advanced, whenever desired, whereby a slight interval may be formed in the wrapping so as to permit better inspection of the joint being made.

A further object of my invention consists in so constructing the apparatus as to facilitate the operation and handling of the-ma.- chine and the accomplishment of the work.

The particular features of my invention which T deem to be new and upon which I desire patent protection .will first be described and then particularly defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the form of construction which is now preferred has been illustrated. lit will be evident that the details of construction might be modified without, however, changing the essential character of the device.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the de vice with a part of the winding head shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side View or elevation of the device with a considerable portion thereof. including all of the winding head, in section.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the winding head.

Fig. 4: shows, in perspective, the means employed for laying the wire in posltion and for securing the feed of the device.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the rear end of the machine.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1224).. Serial No. 310,349.

Fig. 6 shows, in perspective, cating means which carries the in clamps or jaws.

ig. T is a front elevation of the workholding jaws.

In the use of wire cables as tension members, and particularly in such work as airplane construction, it is common to provide a metallic eye, about which the cable is passed, and then to secure the end of the cable by winding a wrapping wire thereabout and then soldering the parts which are thus brought into contact. The object of the present invention is to do this work rapidly and in a superior manner.

The frame of this machine consists essentially of a tube or cylinder 1, which is supported in any suitable manner, as by means of legs 10, which are separated so as to give suitable width of bearing. Mounted within this tube is a work-holder, this being held in such manner that it may reciprocate lengthwise of the tube, but will not turn therein. This workholder, as herein illustrated, is mounted upon a smaller tube 2, which lies in the lower portion of the main tube 1. To this is secured two disks or plates 20 and 21, which form a fairly snug, but easy sliding fit within the tubular frame.

One of the disks has secured thereto a part which passes through a slot 11, formed in the upper side of the tubular frame, thereby preventing turning. As herein shown, a supporting trough 22 extends between the two disks 20 and 21. This is designed to receive any object, such as the turnbuckle 30. which is shown in Fig. 2 and which it is desired to secure to the eyeof the cable.

Secured to the outer or winding end of the tube 2, is a plate or disk 3, which is shown in perspective in Fig. 6, and in front view in Fig. 7. This disk is slightly more than a semi-circle in shape and is provided on its upper straight side with a notch 30, which has overhanging tips or aws 31 at the upper side of the notch.

Mounted upon the tube 2, so as to have a sliding movement thereon, is a sleeve 32 which carries another disk 33, which fairly closely resembles in its outline disk 3. This sleeve has a limited movement lengthwise of. and upon the tube 2. it is provided with a slot 34 in its upper side, and the tube 2 is the reciprowork-holdprovided with aslot 23 which registers with the slot 34 and is somewhat longer than the latter.

The sleeve 32 is connected with a rod 24 which is mounted to have a limited reciprocating movement within the disks 20 and 21. The sleeve 32 and the disk 33 carried thereby, are held outward, or toward the disk 3, which carries the other pair of jaws, by means of a spring 26, which spring has one end connected with the disk 20, and itsother end secured to the rear end of the rod 24. This is shown as secured to the hook 27 which is formed upon the rear end of this rod. In consequence, the inner pair of clamping jaws carried by the disk 33, may

be forced backward sufficient to permit insertion of the loop or eye formed in the end of the cable, between the two disks 3 and 33, and then, by being forced outward under the action of the spring 26, this eye will be clamped between the two plates, the overhanging jaws 31 engaging over the edges of the eye enough to hold it in place and pre vent turning.

The" outer end of the tube 1, which forms the main frame, has thereon a means for holding a spool of wrapping 'wire and for turning the same. A small belt pulley 4 is mounted to turn upon the tube 1.- Mounted upon the tube 1 outside of the belt pulley 4 is a short collar 40. The collar 40 at its inner end is provided with one or more projecting lugs or teeth. as 41, and the belt pulley is provided with corresponding recesses, so that when assembled in place the collar and the belt pulley 4 are secured for rotation together. The belt pulley 4 is mounted to turn freely upon the outer surface of the tube 1.

The collar 40 should be secured in place in such manner that it may be readily removed when desired. One manner of'doing this, being the manner herein illustrated, consists of providing a spring ring 42, made of round wire and of such size that it tends to grip upon the outer end of the tube 1 which forms the main portion of the frame. To hold, this in place the outer end of the tube 1 should be provided, either with a slight recess into which the ring 42 fits, or a slight out-turned flange. The ring 42 is an open ring, and consequently, may be easily expanded so as to remove it, or put it in place and when in place will be held with such force as to prevent accidental removal of the sleeve 40.

Upon'the sleeve 40 is mounted a spool 5, which contains the wire 50, which is being used to wrap the cable eye. By removing the sleeve 40, the spool may be taken off from the inner end thereof and another spool supplied therefor.

Carried by the outer end of the sleeve 40 is the mechanism by which the wire is guided into place, and the feed lengthwise of the article being wrapped is secured. Thisdevice is shown separately in Figs. 3 and 4. The base or frame member of this device consists of a plate 6 which is fixedly secured to the sleeve 40. The outer end of this extends radially outward a distance slightly beyond the outer edge of the spool 5. The outer end of this carries a wire guiding device which may be of any suitable construction. As illustrated, this consists of a plate 51 which is provided with a groove or guide for the passage of the wire 50. This guide extends transversely of the spool and, therefore, delivers the wire at some distance outside of the spool.- This wire is then brought inward, as shown at 52, and passes through a guiding slot 53 formed in a bar or plate 54, which is mounted for adjustment toward and from the center by being slidably mounted in guides 60 carried by the plate 6. This plate is adjustable, as by a slot 55 through which passes the clamping bolt 56 by which it may be secured in adjusted position.

The inner end of the plate 54 is provided with fingers 57 and 58 at opposite side edges thereof. The finger 58 is slotted,

forming the guide groove 53, through which the wire passes just before being applied to the cable. The other finger 57 is brought into close engagement with the outer surface of the article being wrapped and presses against the side face of the last turn of wire which has been put in place. If the'windin is started at the outer end, as the point 7 shown in Fig. 2, the article being wrapped is automatically fed outward as the wire is applied, and in such manner that the turns of wire are laid in close contact with each other.

For purpose of better soldering the last end, and also of better inspecting the work to determine whether or not it has been properly soldered, I prefer to produce, in one or more places in the length of the work, a slight separation between consecutive turns of the coil, thus permitting an inspection of the parts being wrapped, through the opening thus formed.

This result may be secured by providing means whereby the outward movement of the article being wrapped may be advanced somewhat in excess of the automatic feed. The guide plate 51 by which the wire is transferred from the spool to the wire laying device, is shown as being secured to an arm 59 which is secured adjustably in position by means of a clamping bolt, as 61. In this manner the angular position of this plate may be adjusted.-

To the disk 20, which is at the rear end of the tube 2, is secured a bar 8, which bar on one edge is provided with ratchet teeth. Pivoted upon the main frame at the point 80 is a lever 81. This is normally held in retracted position by means of a spring 82. Pivotedupon this lever is a pawl 83, which has a finger release 84. This pawl is normally held in engagement with bar 8 by means of a spring 85. The bar 8 is moved in conformity with the movement of the work-holder. As this is automatically fed outward by layin of the wire about the cable, it slides un er the pawl 83. Whenever it may be desired to advance the feeding ofthe article being wrapped, so as to produce the gaps 70, this may be done by quickly moving outward the lever 81. The amount of this movement determines the spacing between the consecutive layers of wire. The amount of this movement may be determined by means of an adjustable stop bolt, as 86, which is so placed as to be engaged by the lever 81, and thus limit its movement in that direction. means the spacing between the wires may be provided at any point desired, and the amount thereof also adjusted.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a wire wrapping machine, a work holder mounted to have an axial feeding movement, a rotative head surrounding said holder, awire guide carried by saidhead and having a finger engaging the. wire as laid to feed said holder, and means to at will give said holder a momentary increase in .its feeding rate to thereby produce a spacing between the turns of wire when desired.

2. In a wire wrapping machine, a work holder mounted to have an axial feeding movement, a rotative head surrounding said holder, a wire guide carried by said head and having a finger engaging the wire as laid to feed said holder, and a feed lever adapted to be momentarily engaged with said holder to advance it when desired.

3. In a wire wrapping machine, a work holder mounted to have an axial feeding movement, a rotative head surrounding said holder, a wire guide carried by said head and having a finger engaging the wire as laid to feed said holder, a lever provided with means for advancing said holder when desired, and an adjustable stop for controlling the amount of said advancing movement.

4.-In a wire wrapping machine, a work holder mounted to have an axial feeding movement, a rotative head surrounding said holder, a wire guide carried by said head and having a finger engaging the wire as laid to feed said holder, a toothed bar secured to the holder, and a manually operable lever having a dog adapted to engage the teeth of said bar to feed it and the holder forward.

5. In a wire wrapping machine, a work holder mounted to have an axial feeding By these movement, a rotative head surrounding said holder, a wire guide carried by said head and having a finger engaging the wire as laid to feed said holder, a toothed bar connected with the holder, a lever having a dog adapted to engage said toothed bar to feed it, and an adjustable stop limiting the movement of said lever.

6. In a wire wrapping machine, a work holder mounted to have an axial feeding movement, a wire guide mounted to rotate about said work holder, means controlled by the wire as laid for securing the axial feed of the work holder, and means for producing a spacing between the turns of wire at will comprising means for producing a momentary increase in the feeding rate of the work holder.

7. In a wire wrapping machineof the kind described, a work holder, a wire guide mounted to rotate about said work holder, means controlled by the wire as laid for securing the axial feed of the work holder, and manually controllable means for giving said holder an increase in its feeding rate of movement.

8. In a wire wrapping machine of the kind described, awork holder, a wire guide mounted to rotate about said work holder, means controlled by the wire as laid for securing the axial feed of the work holder, and manually controllable means for imposing a supplemental feeding movement 'upon said work holder, and means for adjustably controlling the amount of said supplemental feeding movement.

9. A wire wrapping machine comprising a tubular frame, a bar mounted to be moved lengthwise of and within said frame, workholding jaws secured to the outer end of said bar, complemental work holding jaws .mounted upon said bar and having a limited movement thereon to secure and release the work, a spring acting upon said work holding jaws to secure the work, a head rotative about said frame, a wire guide carried by said head and having a finger .engaging the wire as placed to thereby feed the work holder along, and means for giving said work holder a supplemental feeding movement at will.

10. In a wrapping machine, a rotativ head surrounding the article to be wrapped,

a wire laying arm projecting inward from 7 said head and having its inner end formed as a yoke spanning the article, one finger of said yoke being slit to form a wire laying guide, and the other finger being offset therefrom axially of the article and engaging the turn of wire last laid to secure thereby an automatic axial feed of the article being Wrapped Signed at Seattle, lVashin'gton, this 30th day of June, 1919.

EARL M. LAMBERT. 

